Improvement in trunk-stays



T. BOY.

Trunk-Stays.

- a FigMQ.

W& t nesses.

UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE THIOPHILE Rov, OF PAWTUCKET, nHoDE ISLAND IMPROVEMENT IN TRUNK-STAVS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 15l,l62, dated May 19, 1874; application filed April 11, 1874.

To all whom it may concern: p

Be it known that I, THIOPHILE BOY, of Pawtucket, in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and val uable Improvement in Trunk-Lid supports; andIdo hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the Construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawiugs, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figures 1 and 2 of the drawiugs are representations of transverse sections of my trunklid support, and Figs. 3 and4 are detail views of the same.

This invention has relation to devices wherewith the lids of trunks or other receptacles are supported when opened, and prevented from closiug when it is desirable that the lid be throw back. y It consists, mainly, of a novel application of a spring to hooked and shouldered arms, pivoted to each other, and also at one of their free extrcmities to the lid, and at the other to the bodyof a trunk, tool-chest, or other lidded receptacle, whereby a lid is sustained and kept open in a manner hereafter to be eXplained.

`In the annexed drawings, A designates a trunl body, provided interier-ly, and at each of the upper edges of its ends A' A', with a recess, a, which serves to receive part ot' a nechanism hereafter to be described, when the lid is closed in such a manner as not to interfere with the free introduction of a tray.

B designates a lid, which is also provided with a similar chamber, and for similar purposes. At a suitable point of each recess a is pivoted one end of an arm, C, constituting a part of said support, ou the lower eXtremity of which is an eye, through which is passed a screw, D, sec'uring it to the trunk end A' in such a manner as to enable it to rotate on said screw. -At the upper end of this arm C is constructed a bifurcaton, G, which afl'ords cars Z b, perforated to receive a pivot, p, for a purpose hereinaftcr to be eXpla-ined. In the lower and under part of the arm C is a pin, p', serving to secure one end of a spring, of which I shall hereinafter show the use and application. E designates a second portion or arm of said support, Secured at its upper extremity to the inside of the end of the trunklid B, and vibrating freely. The lower extremity of this arm E is provided with an eye, which receives the pivot p, connecting it to the bifurcated end G of the arm G, thus forming a hinge. arni E is constructed a shoulder, g, pressed, as the hinge is actuated, against the under side of the arm C, which shoulder serves to prevent the arms C and E flexing outwardly on the joint or hin ge. At the lower extremity of this arm is formed a hook, J, to which one extremity of a spring is secured by means of a link. S designates a spring, helical or otherwise, to which is iitted at both euds loops 70 k'. Through' the loop 70 is passed a link, l, which is notched on its inner. edge to receive and hold the loop k, thus preventing lateral deviation.

The spring S is attached in the following i manner, to wit: I engage the loop 76' over the pin p' on the lower arm G, and the link l, secured to the loop k, over the hook J on the upper arm E.

It will be seen from the above description that I apply my invention as follows, to wit: In closing the truuk or other receptaele, it will be observed that the arin E, hinged upon the arm C, and connected with the spring S by means of the link l and the hook J, serv ing as a lever, actuates the spring S, and that, in the act of opening the receptacle, the spring S, gradually released from the tension applied to it in closiug, forces the lid up and back to its place, and there keeping as long as re-' quired. h

My improvement may be applied, as above described, to any trunk without in any way affecting the use of trays, if desired.

What I claim, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is

A self-acting lid-support consisting of the jointed arms C E, the spring S, and the shoulder and hook formed on the arm E, combined and operated as herein described.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto suhscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

J OSEPH SCHWARZ, J ACOB LEWIS.

At the lower part of the 

